Originally Posted by TemsMedic2
gathering some information in regard to agency RN positions within the ED. When approaching an agency for employment, can one request an ED only assignment? In addition, in large urban areas, I have heard that the rate of pay per hour can be as much as 40/hr....Is is true or only wishful thinking?
Yes, rates of $40 an hour in urban areas are realistic. My agency pays as high as $50 an hour for weekend night shift specialty areas. This is for per diem work, not travel- no housing stipend is paid in addition to that rate. Health insurance is available for those who work roughly 3/4 time.
Nurses are expected to float to areas of comparable skill. How that is defined will depend a bit on the hospital and the agency. If you are only competent to practice in the ER, then that is the only place you can work and make sure your agency knows that. Most agencies have skills checklists that are unit specific- only fill out the ER one.
I think this is one of the few ways that ER nurses have more protection than ICU nurses- ICU can usually be made to float to tele and sometimes to med/surg. But, at least in the unit and IF there is a supportive management or ratio law in effect, they can refuse to take on additional patients. ER nurses often don't have that protection, but I've never worked at a hospital that would float an ER nurse.
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